An Elysian Fields football player holds a No. 5 jerseys for their late teammate, Kip Lewis at The Zone football preview magazine photo shoot in June in Kilgore.

KILGORE — When Elysian Fields takes the field at Jacket Stadium for the season opener against Atlanta on Friday night, something will be missing.

The Yellowjackets will play their first football game without late teammate Kip Lewis. Lewis, who would’ve been a senior this year, was shot and killed at a parade in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Feb. 18.

“He was a really good, dear friend to all of us, and he sadly passed away,” senior Jax Parker said.

Lewis was a first-team receiver in District 11-3A Division II and was a first-team all-district selection in basketball in District 16-3A last season.

As a sophomore, he was a first-team outfielder in baseball in District 16-3A. Unfortunately, he was unable to play baseball his junior season as his death occurred just days before the start of the 2023 high school baseball season.

“It happened at the start of baseball season,” Parker said. “He was able to go through football and basketball, and then right at the start of baseball, it happened.”

“He was kind of everything,” Elysian Fields head football coach Justin Crow said. “He played wide receiver, kickoff returner, punt returner and cornerback. He was pretty much our best athlete.”

The Yellowjackets carried two No. 5 jerseys with them to a photo shoot for The Zone East Texas Football Magazine on June 13 at Kilgore High School.

“We like to have 5 with us at all times to keep his memory around,” Parker said. “He will never be forgotten with our team and with everyone really. To me, it’s the most important thing, bringing that with us and having him with us at all times. It really helps me get through everything.”

Sophomore Tae Harrison was one of the players holding the No. 5 jersey in the photos.

“It feels great because he was a very good person,” Harrison said. “He loved everybody in here. He meant a lot to us.”

How Elysian Fields will honor Lewis throughout the season was yet to be decided, but Harrison suggested the team carry it out to the pregame coin toss.

“We’re still trying to figure out the best way to do that,” Crow said in June. “We’re wanting to talk to the family and let the kids have input, as well. We’ve tossed out different ideas. We may have a different kid wear his number each game this year. We definitely want to make sure his legacy continues. He was a big part of the team that’s important to us.”

“It’s going to be rough without him for sure,” Parker said. “But we will make it through for him.”